Filling machine



May 22, 1945. c. T. WALTER 2,376,833

FILLING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet l "nap INVENTOR wkcmw Y {1W ATTDRNE! May 22, 1945.

c. T. WALTER FILLING MACHINE a sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1941 Cfiarles I Walter ATTFJT- ay 1945- c. 'r. WALTER 2,376,838

' FILLING MACHINE Filed June 12-, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I l I 3 fiarles T a dlter IN VENT OR I ATTQRNEY C. T. WALTER FILLING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1941 May 22, 1945.

a Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR 6% A HOHNEY fiarles .2 la 21 Ill/Z May 22, 1945. c. T. WALTER FILLING MACHINE Filed June -12, 1941 a Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR ATTEJT May 22, 1945. c. T. WALTER 2,376,838

FILLING MACHINE ,Filed June 12, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 A TT ORNE Y May 22, 1945. c. T. WALTER 2,316,838

FILLING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 ATTORNEY- I ATTEJT- May 22, 1945. c. T. WALTER FILLING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY C/Jarles T. we mar E T T A inherent flow characteristics.

Patented May 22, 1945 Charles '1'. Walter, Chicago, n|., asslgnor to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, III., a

corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,690

11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for filling containers, and more particularly to apparatus adapted to fill containers with a desired volume or mass of plastic or semi-solid material.

More specifically, the invention relates to apparatus for filling containers with products such as ground cheese, ground meat, and the like, which. are very stiii" and have very little or no In the packing industry, containers are usually filled with such material by the aid of cylinders of the type commonly employed in sausage stuifers which, for structural reasons, are limited to about 75 to 100 pounds per square inch pressure on the piston. Such pressures are inadequate for causing stifi products to move at a practicalrate through the passageways of the filling apparatus into the bore of the metering cylinder and to actuate the metering piston to force the material out of the metering cylinder into another set of passageways into the container being filled. Hence,'filling operations could be conducted with such apparatus only by the use of undesirable excessive pressures. In accordance with the present invention, instead of employing such excessive pressures to actuate the piston of the metering cylinder, independent power means in the form of an air-operated booster cylinder is employed for positively moving the metering piston back and forth in the metering cylinder to rapidly and forcibly displace the material therefrom. I j

Briefly, the invention comprises a metering cylinder adapted to have plastic or semi-solid material introduced there-into under pressure. A metering piston is reciprocably mounted in the metering cylinder to displace material therefrom. Means, such as a sausage stuiilng press, is utilized.

to force the stiff material into the metering cylinder on the trailing side of the metering piston. The

' metering cylinder is preferably of the double-acting type in order to speed up production, but a single-acting cylinder is within the scope of the invention. The admission of material into and the discharge of material from the metering cy1- inder is controlled by a suitable valve, such as a four-way valve. A booster cylinder containing a booster piston connected to said metering piston is provided to forcibly reciprocate the metering piston in the metering cylinder to displace a predetermined quantlty of material therefrom ,on

each stroke of the. piston, it being understood that while the metering piston is forcing material out of one end of the metering cylinder, the

means for introducing-material under pressure into the metering cylinder is refillingthe bore of haust of operating fluid to the booster cylinder and this valve is interconnected with the valve of the metering cylinder so that the action of the pistons in the two cylinders is synchronized. The booster piston is preferably operated by air under pressure because air lends itself to speedy operation; although the term fluid as used herein is intended to be broad enough to include slower acting hydraulic actuation. In order to lighten the task of the operator and to speed up operation of the apparatus, the control valves of the metering and booster cylinders are actuated by a power cylinder, which in turn is controlled by another valve, such as a four-way valve, operable at the will of the operator, or, in accordance with a modified form of the invention, operable automatically upon the positioning of an empty container in filling position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus suitable for filling containers with plastic or semi-solid products having ,very little or no inherent flow characteristics, such as ground cheese, ground meat, etc., which ordinarily do not lend themselves to quick and ref-- ficient packing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container-filling machine capable of handling plastic or semi-solid materials more rapidly and efliciently than has been possible heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a container-filling apparatus capable of metering and discharging a predetermined volume of plastic or semi-solid materialinto a container.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a, container-filling apparatus which is rapid and positive in its operation and which can be provide a manually controlled container-filling apparatus operable at the will of the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a CODtEiHGIz-fillillfl apparatus which operates automatically upon the positioning of an empty container in filling position. j

Still another object of the invention is to proilllofFig.8;

videa container-filling apparatus arranged. and

constructed so that it is easy to operate and which requires only a minimum of effort on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a semi-automatic valve for controlling the opera tion of container-filling apparatus and the like. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel actuating mechanism for said semi-automatic valve.

A stillfurtherobject ofv the invention is to provide "agvalveiconstruction' in which the pressure acting upon the core thereof is balanced.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 1

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of container-filling apparatus embodying the principles, of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the contamer-filling apparatus;

Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of apparatus in which the power cylinder for controlling the valves of the metering cylinder and booster cylinder is operated semi-automati cally and incidental to the positioning 01' an empty container uponthe filling mandrel; 1

Fig. .8 is aside elevational view, partly insection, of the semi-automatic valve employed to control the operation of the power cylinder;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the valve shown in Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the valve taken-ontheline Ill-l0 ofFig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line l2-l2 of'Fig.8;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view par-= ticularly illustrating the arrangement of the main and balancing ports of the valve block and valve core of the semi-automatic control valve;

Fig. 14 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 8

but illustrating the relative position that the parts of the valve mechanism assume during the actuation of the semi-automatic control valve;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the pendulum or operating arm for actuating the semi-automatic control valve; and

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the core of the semi-automatic control valve. v 7

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the container-filling apparatus is designated generally by the numeral i and comprises a rectan-v gular horizontal platform 2 supported upon four uprights 3, one positioned at each corner thereof. These uprights'may consist of angleir'on, as shown.

The uprights 3 are connected at the front of the machine by a strip of angle iron d and are joined at the rear of the machine by channel sections 5 and t, which support a valve-actuating power .cylinder, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The uprights 3 are further connected at et l a side of the machine by stripsof angle iron 2. The lower 'end of each of the-studs H is provided with a shoulder l2 serving as an abutment -'f or a boostercylinder head l3. A threaded por-- tion 14 extends through the cylinder head l3 and a nut l5 threaded upon said portion clamps the cylinder head l3 against the shoulders I2.

The cylinder head l3 forms a closure for one end of a booster cylinder I6- This cylinder further comprises a cylindrical shell ll and a lower cylinder head l8. Each of the cylinder heads 13 and I8 is provided with an annular groove I!) (Fig. 2) adapted to receive therein one end of the shell I]. The cylinder heads I3 and I3 are clamped together and maintained in assembled relation with the shell l'l by a series of tie rods 20 extending through the respective heads and carrying clamping nuts 2| upon the opposite ends thereof.

A base plate 22 is suitably mounted upon the platform 2 and forms a support for an enlarged lower head 23 of a metering cylinder 24. The head 23 is securedto the cylinder 24 by bolts 25 and in turn is secured to the base plate 22 by hand bolts 26. An upper cylinder head 21 forms a closure for the upper end of the metering cylinder 24 and this head is secured in place by a series of .bolts 21.

The internal construction of the metering cylinder 24 is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Itwill be noted from these figures that the metering cylinder 24 includes a medial laterally extending portion 28 provided with a circular bore 29 adapted to receive the core 30 of a four-way valve 3|. The bore 29 communicates with the upper and lower portions of the metering cylinder 24 through arcuate passageways 32 and 33, respectively. The bore 29 also communicates with a lateral discharge passageway 34. The bore 23 still further communicates with an inlet passageway 38 arranged in the same horizontal plane as the discharge passageway 34. A flanged fitting 31 is secured to an end faceof the medial portion 28 by bolts 38 and an inlet pipe 39 is suitable secured in the fitting 31.

The valve core 30 (Fig. 6) is retained in the valve bore 29 in the cylinder portion 28 by 'a fitting 40 and a cooperative plate 4i disposed at one end of. said bore, and by a flanged fitting 42 at the opposite end of said bore. The plate 4! is solid. and completely obstructs the. bore and is secured to the metering cylinder24 by bolts 4W which, incidentally, also pass through the fitting 40. Additional bolts Mi pass only through the fitting 40 to further secure the same to the metering cylinder 24. ,'I'he flanged fitting 42 is secured to the metering cylinder 24 by'bolts 42 and is provided with a central opening 44 for the reception of astem 45. projecting axially from ports 41 and 48 (Fig. 5) adapted to register with the passageways 32, 33, 34 and 38, aswill be explained more fully hereinafter. A pipe nipple 50 has one end thereof threadand an elbow element is threadedly mounted upon the opposite endof said pipe nipple. A mandrel or container-filling spout 52 may be formed integral with the elbow 5|. The exterior dimensions of the mandrel '52 preferably closely approximate those of the interior of the container X which is to be filled. The mandrel 52 is provided with an upwardly opening discharge orifice 53 arranged so that the empty container X must be placed upon the mandrel in an inverted position.

A metering piston 55 is slidably received in the bore 56 of the metering cylinder 24. The piston 55 is suitably secured to a piston rod 51 which projects through the cylinder heads 23 and 21 and through stuffing boxes 58.and 59, respectively, carried by said heads. The metering piston 55, of course, is sealed against leakage by conventional packing, not shown.

The lower portion of the piston rod 51 (Fig. 2) extends through a stufling box I3 on the upper cylinder head I3 of the booster cylinder I6 and has a booster piston 68 secured thereto. The lower booster cylinder head I8 carries a threaded stop 6I adapted to limit the downward movement of the piston rod 51. The stop 6| may be adjusted in the cylinder head I8 through a handwheel 62 and locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 63. The upward movement of the piston rod 51 may be limited by a central boss 64 on the piston 68 adapted to engage with the inner surface of the upper booster cylinder head I3.

The booster piston 68 is preferably actuated by air under pressure and the admission and exhaust of such air from the booster cylinder I6 is controlled by a four-way valve 65. This valve is diagrammatically illustratedin Fig. 1. Air under pressure is supplied to the valve 65 through a pipe 86. This air is admitted into the upper portion of the booster cylinder I6 through a pipe 51 and is admitted to the lower portion of said booster cylinder through a pipe 68. Spentor exadapted to be placed in communication with the pipes 66 to 69, in a manner which will be described more fully hereinafter. The valve core 18 is connected with a valve stem 13 and an opcrating arm 14 is secured to said stem to effect oscillation of said core. I

The actuation of the control valve 3| for the metering cylinder 24 and the control valve 85 for the booster cylinder I6 is effected simultaneously by a power cylinder 88. The power cylinder 80 has heads 8I and 82 at its respective ends. Flanges 83 and 84 serve to mount said cylinder on the machine frame. Thus, the fiange '84 is secured to the channel member 5 by suitable bolts 85 and the flange 83 is secured to the channel -member 6 by suitable bolts 88. l

threadedly mountedupon the upper extremity of said piston rod. The T-shaped member and the piston rod 88 are held in relatively locked rela tion by a lock nut 9| threadedly mounted upon said rod. Relative adjustment of the member 98 and the rod 88 may be made to vary the stroke of the power piston 81.

A pin 92 extends through the T-shaped member 98 and through the lower end of a pair of long links 93. The'upper ends of the links 93 are connected by a pin 94 to one end of the operating arm 3I of the metering cylinder control valve 3|. The pin 94 also connects the upper end of a pair of relatively shorter links 95 with the operating arm 3I the links 95 being held apart by a spacer 95 and the links 95 and 93 being held apart by spacers 91, mounted upon the pin. 94. The lower ends of the links 95 are connected by a pin 98 (Fig. 3) to one end of the operating arm 14 of the control valve 65 for the booster cylinder IS. The links 93 and 95 project through an opening I88 formed in the platform 2, as best shown in Fi 4.

The power piston 81 is preferablyactuated by air under pressure and the admission and exhaust of such air from the power cylinder 88 is controlled by a four-way valve I82 (Fig. 1), having a core I83 provided with arcuate ports I84 and I85. Air under pressure is supplied to the valve I82 through a pipe I86 and this air is admitted into the upper portion of the power cylin-' press, or other suitable apparatus, is adapted to continually supply plastic or semi-solid material to theinlet pipe 39 of the metering cylinder 24.

The operation of the aforedescribed apparatus is as follows:

The material to be packed in containers is fed under pressure from the device I I5 to the metering cylinder 24 through the inlet .pipe 39. An empty container X is placed in inverted position upon the filling mandrel 52. Assuming that the metering cylinder control valve 3|, the booster cylinder control valve 65 and the power cylinder control valve I82 are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the container X will have been almost completely filled because the booster piston 68 and the metering piston 55 are almost at the end of their up-stroke.

At the beginning of the filling operation, the

power cylinder control valve I 82, of course, is in I the position shown in Fig. 1, the pedal III being held down by the foot of the operator. The port I of the valve core I83 is in a position to establish communication between the air supply pipe I88 and the pipe I88, to'thus admit air under pressure into the lower end of the power cylinder 88 to cause the power piston 81 to move upwardly.

Simultaneously, air is exhausted from-above the.

Upward movement of the tion.

' pre under pressure to enter the lower end of the cylinder It to force the booster piston 60 upwardly. At the same time, the port lI establishes communication between the pipe 51 and the exhaust pipe 59 and permits air to be exhausted from the upper side or the booster piston 50. The air under pressure causes thebooster piston 50 to move upwardly until the abutment 54 engages with the upper head of the booster cylinder l5. Upwardmovement of the booster piston 50 produces like movement of the rod and causes the metering piston 55 to be moved upwardly a corresponding distance in the metering cylinder 24. Inasmuch as the port 48 of the metering valve core is now in position to establish communication between the cylinder passageway 32 and the discharge orifice 53 of the container-fillin spout or mandrel 52, the material in the cylinder 24 above the piston 55 will be displaced from said cylinder into the container X, forcing the container to rise relatively to the spout as it fills. While the container X is being filled, the operator preferably presses downwardly upon the'container to cause the material forced into said container to spread laterally and thereby progressively fill the container. 0 During the time that material is being dis charged through the port 48, the port 41 is in position to establish'communication between the inlet pipe 39 and the cylinder passageway 33 so that the device II5 can force material into the metering cylinder 24 to fill the space below the piston 55 as the same is moved upwardly. Thus, the metering cylinder 24 is maintained filled at all times with the material being packed.

As has been previously stated, the'material is introduced into the inlet pipe 39 under pressure and this factor may be utilized to assist in the movement of the metering piston 55 in an upward direction. Available sausage stufllng presses I able stop 5|.

metering cylinder. Hence, the extrusion of said material is primarily effected through the use of the booster cylinder which may be designed to Provide'additional force, or all of' the force, re-

movement of the container across the top of the f mandrel 52 the desired amount of material will be contained in the container, and the material at the orifice 53 will be wiped flush with the top surface ofthe mandrel. Inasmu h as the mate 1 rial being handled is in a plastc or semi-solid form and, due to the. further fact that it has been more or less compacted against the inner walls upwardly until it engages the stop II3. Such movement of the foot pedal III will position the ports I04 and I05 of the valve I02 so as to cause the power piston 01 to move downwardly and to simultaneously shift the position of the valve operating arms 14 and 3I of the booster control valve 65 and the metering cylinder control valve 3| downwardly, respectively. It will be apparent that during downward movement of the power piston 81 air under pressure will be admitted to the upper portion of the power cylinder 00 through the pipe I05, valve port I05 and the pipe I01, and that simultaneously spent air will be exhausted from the space below the power piston 81 through the pipe I08, valve port I04 and exhaust pipe I09.

When'the power piston Ill has downward limit of travel, the arm 14 on the boostercontrol valve 65 will have moved the valve core I0 so that air will be admitted into the space above the booster piston 50 through the pipe 86, port H and pipe 61. Simultaneously, spent airwill be exhausted from the space below the booster piston 60 through the pipe 60, port I2 and the exhaust pipe 69-. The booster piston. will be limited in its downward movement by the engagement of the lower extremity of the connecting rod 51 with the upper end of the adjust- The valve operating arm 3| of the control valve 3| for the metering cylinder 24 is moved downwardly simultaneously with the movement.

of the arm 14 of the booster cylinder control valve I55, as has been stated. Hence, as the boosterpiston 50 moves downwardly, the metering piston sageway 33 and the discharge passageway 34. so

that the material on the lower side of themetering piston is forced out of the metering cylinder 24 through the orifice 53 in the mandrel 52 and into the container x. At the same time, the

valve port 41 establishes communication between the inlet pipe 39 and the passageway 32 so that a fresh charge of plastic or semi-solid-material is introduced under pressure into the metering cylinder 24 in the space above'the metering piston 55.

When the metering piston 55 has reached the end of its travel, the container will have been filled and may be removedfrom the mandrel 52,

in the manner previously described. In order a to repeat the filling operation it is only necessary I .-for the opefa'torto again depress the foot pedal III to position the power cylinder control valve I02 so that the ports thereof assume the position shown in Fig, l.

The .aforedescribed apparatus enables "stiiff materials to be more quickly and efllciently of the container by resistance oifered by the op- Upon the completion of the illling of one con tainer, another empty container is immediately placed over the mandrel 52 and the release of f onthe footpedal III- by the operator packed with less waste of time than has been posunder pressure into the bore of the metering cylinder assures that the cylinder willbe full at all times and that a'uniform quantity of material will be displaced upon each stroke of the piston. willt en permit the spring m tomove'saidpedal is Power actuation of the control valves or the reache its into said booster cylinder are similar to booster cylinder I6 and valve 65, previously described.

A connecting rod 51 connects a metering piston 55 with a booster piston 60 in the manner previously described in connection with Figures 1 to 6. A power cylinder 80", contains a power piston 61* which is connected by means of links 93" and 95 to the valves 3I and 65. respectively, in order to simultaneously actuate said valves. A four-way valve 120 for controlling the admission and exhaust of air from the power cylinder 60 is quite different from the valve I02, which performs a similar function inconnection with the power cylinder 80. Likewise, the means for effecting actuation of the valve I is quite different from the foot operated mechanism described in connection with Fig. 1. A device I15 pivot pin I33 carry a pin I38 held in place by cotter'pins I39. A sleeve I40 surrounds the pin I38 and serves as a spacer for the free ends of the bars 13s. The sleeve no is adapted to be engaged by the saddle I24. carried by the lower end of the rod I2 I, as indicated in Fig. 8. A secand plate MI is arranged in spaced relation to the plate I29 and is secured to the body I by means of a bolt I42.

' A pair of toggle members I 43 and I44, respectively, is-disposed between the arms I32, and the rigid frame I25. Each of said toggle members comprises a pair of links. I43 and I44, respectively, one of which links is pivotally connected to the arms I32 at I45 and the other of, which is pivotally connected to the frame I25 at I46. The respective links of the toggle'members I43 and I44 are pivotally connected together at I43 and I44". The links connected to the arms I32 include a longitudinal extension I4'I adapted to engage with a-pin I49 carried by the other of transmitted therethrough. The upper links of the toggle members I43 and I44 are connectedv by a transverse pin I49 disposed between spaced similar to the device II5 introduces plastic or semi-solid material under pressure into the metering cylinder 24*. This modified apparatus will now be discussed in detail.

In order. to render the container-filling apparatus semi-automatic in,its operation, an upright rod I2I is positioned with the upper end I22 thereof disposed adjacent one side, of'a filling mandrel 52 so that the rim of a container X1 will engage said end as said container .is mounted upon the mandrel for filling. As will be appar-- ent from Fig. 7, a sudden or rapid movement of the container X1 downwardly upon the filling mandrel 52* will impart a like movement to the rod I2I. Such downward movement of the rod III is utilized to actuate the power cylinder control valve I20 for admitting and exhausting air from the power cylinder. 80, as will be explained hereinafter. The lower end I23 of the rod I2I carries a saddle I24 (Fig. 8) adapted to engage a part of the mechanism of the valve I20 to effect actuation thereof.

Figs. 8 to 16, inclusive, illustrate in detail the semi-automatic. control valve I20 for the power cylinder 80*. As shown in Fig. 8, the valve I20 comprises a main body portion I25 secured to a mounting bracket I26 by bolts I21. The bracket I26 may be mounted upon the apparatus in any suitable place. A block I28 rests upon the upper surface-of the body I25 at one end thereof and a plate I29 overlies said block, said plate and block being secured to said body by suitable bolts I30. The plate I29 is further secured to the block I29 by relatively short bolts I3I. A pair stops or abutments I50 and I5I carried'by the plates I29 and MI, respectively. The stops I 50 and I5I may take the form of bolts threadedly mounted in said plates to provide for adjustment thereof relative to each other. Lock nuts I50 and I5I serve to maintain the stops I50 and I5I in the desired position of adjustment. One end of the frame I25 is connected to one end I53 of a tension spring I52 and the opposite end of said spring is secured to a suitable fixed element I54 of the machine. The spring I52is ar-- ranged to exert an upward force on the frame of arms I 32, one disposed upon each side of the body I25, is pivotally 'connected to said body by a pin I33. The opposite ends of said arms are connected together by a generally u-shaped plate I34 arranged so that its legs I35 and I35 straddle the body I25, as best shown in Fig. 10.

A rigid frame I25 comprising a pair of bars 5 I36 is pivotally mounted upon the pin I33 exteriorly of the arms I32, as is best'shown in Fig. 9.

I 25 toreturn said frame to its initial position after depression of the rod I2I ,and to engage the transverse pin I49 with the stop I50 to effect straightening of the toggle members I43 and I44.

The body I25 carries a valve block generally indicated at I55. The valve block I is provided with a longitudinal bore I56 adapted to receive one end of a valve core I51. The opposite end of said valve core is suitably supported in a bearing block I50. The valve block I55 and bearing block I58 may be welded or otherwise secured to'the body I25. The valve block I55 is further provided with main ports I59 and I60 extending vertically and intersecting the bore I56 as best shown in Fig. 12. The valve block I55 is further provided with main ports I6I and I62 which extend horizontally of said block and also intersect the bore I56.

An inlet pipe I63 for air under pressure is connected to the valve block I55 directly above cates with the opposite end/of said power cylinder.

The valve core I5! is, generally circular-in cross-section and fits snugly in the bore I56. Portions of said core are cut away at a point in alignment with the passageways I59 to I62 to provide main ports I6Ilv and I69 separated by'a flat diametrical web. These ports cooperate with with port 112 i ports m and no through the min ports I59I82 er the valve block I55 I to provide a four-way valve.

In order to reduce friction and facilitate easev I of operation of the valve core I51, said valve 1 core and valve block I55 are provided with a I series of balancing ports, which will now be de-,

in the block I55 and intersect the valve bore I58 pair oi spaced vertical ports HI and I12 are drilled i so that ports I1I and I12 are-formed in said block below said bore. A horizontal passageway 1 I18 communicates with the port HI and a sec- 1 connects the passageways I18 and I14 and a ver- 1 tical passageway I18 disposed upon one side of 10nd horizontal passageway I14 communicates A longitudinal passageway I 15 j the bore I58 connects the passageways I10 and I15. The outer end of each of the passageways i "8,113, I14, I15 and I18 is plugged so as to i prevent the escape of air under pressure. from the valve block I55. The upper end of each of core I51 between the hub I85 and the valve. block j the ports "I and I12, on the other hand, is left a open so that these ports are alwaysopen to the j atmosphere.

' The valve core I51 has additional portions 3 thereof cut away to provide a set of balancing ports I11 and I18 '(Fig. 16) spaced longitudinally from the main ports I88 and I89, 'and a second set of balancing ports I19 and I80 on the other side of the ports I88 and I89. The ports I11 and I18 located along the valve core I51 that they are 1 in alignment with the ports "I and III. The ports I19 and I80 are also separated by a diametrical web and are located so that they are in j alignment with the ports I12 and "2. It will X be noted that the web separating the main ports j I88 and I89 is disposed in the same plane as the webs separating the balancing ports I11-I18 and a I19-I80, and it will be understood that the ports 3 of the valve core are so designed, that the sum of are separated by a diametrical web andare so 1 f the projected areas of the webs of the balancing 1 ports is equal to that of the web of the main ports. It will be clear from the foregoing that when time valve core I51 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12, air under. ressure can enter the power cylinder 80' through-the supply pipe I88, portsrl59, I88, I8I and pipe I88; the web portion of the core between the ports I88 and I89 iassuming an angled repose-oi about Thus,

1 the air pressure efl'ective upon the port I 88 re- 1 solves itself intocomponents exerting downward and lateral thrust-on the valve core I51. At the ;same time, these components are balanced by 1 equal and opposite components effective upon the l balancing ports I18 and I80 on the opposite side act upon the port'l18 through the passageways are in the dot-and-dash line position, the eflective pressin'e on the valve core will be balanced in a manner similar to that previously described, except that 'the pressure on the port I89 will now be balanced by pressure acting upon the ports I11 and I19 and atmospheric pressure acting upon the port I88 will be balanced by atmospheric 'carries pins I81 and I88, projecting from the opposite sides thereof. One end of a pendulum or operating ar-m I89 is rigidly secured to the lobe I88 and the opposite end of said arm carries aweight I90. v

A collar I9I is non rotatably secured to the I55. An arcuate recess or slot I92 formed in a sideof said collar is adapted to receive the pin I88. The arcuate recess I92 terminates in substantially radial end walls" I 99 and I94 which serve as abutments for the pin- I88, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The pendulumarm I89, while it is free to ro- The arm I89 andtheweight I90 serve as a swingable pendulum arm for ieifecting rotation of the valve core I51. When there is no container upon the filling spout 52, the toggle members I43 and I44 assume the position shown in Fig. 8 and the pendulum arm I89 assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10.

As an empty inverted container is moved downwardly relative to the filling spout 52, its

' rim engages the upper endorthe rod I2I and causes said rod to move downwardly. The containeris preferably moved downward quickly so as to-impart a sudden movement to the rod I2I. In view of the fact that'the saddle I24 tion of spring I52, thereby causing said frame. to

'members I49 and I44, being in alignment, transmit thrust from th frame I25 to the arms I32 of the valve core I51; the air being admitted to 1 1 I18, I18, I19 and port HI, and to act upon the U gport I88 through the passageways I10, I18, I15,

1 I14 and port I12. In the-meantime, atmospheric 1 pressure acting upon the main port I89 through 1 exhaust pipe I84 and port I is balanced by'atmospheric pressure acting upon the balancing the ports "I and I12,

respectively. 9

The valve core m is designed to be rotatedfthrough an angle of about 90. Such rotation i will position the web betweenthe valve core ports 1 in the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 12. When the ports in the valve core I51 pivot aboutthe pin I33. Thelinksof the toggle to cause said arms to similarly pivot about the .pin I33. Upon continued downward movement of the rod I2 I, the transverse pin I49 will engage the stop I5I and pivot the upper of the toggle links about the pin I48, thus efiecting a break suflicicnt to overcome the inertia of the weight I90 and cause said arm to flop over through a vertical plane passing through theaxis of rotation so that it comes to restin the position indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 10. The

- of its movement.

impulse resulting in the aforedescribed actuation of the pendulum arm I89 is produced, as stated, prior to breaking of the toggle members "3-444 so that the rigid frame I25 canthereafter pivot downwardly independent of the arms I32 against the resistance offered by the spring I52. At the same time, further upward movement of the striker I89 would be limited by the engagement of the edge 288 of the U-shaped member I34 with the lower side of the body I25.

As will be noted from Fig. 10, the pendulum arm I89 with its weight I90 moves through a total angle of about 180. however, need only be moved through an angle of approximately 90 to shift the main ports I68 and I69 of said valve core from one operative position to the other. Hence, during about the first half of the travel of the pendulum arm I89 the pin I88 traverses the slot I92 and imparts no rotation to the valve core I51, but, as said arm reaches approximately its vertical position, said pin strikes against the abutment'surface I94 of said slot andcauses said valve core to thereafter rotate therewith through the remainder Thus, a lost-motion connection is provided between the pendulum arm I85 and the valve core I51. By the time that the pin I88 engages the abutment surface I94, the pendulum arm I89 is traveling at a substantial velocity so that said pin strikes said abutment surface with a hammer-like effect and readily trolling the operation of the power cylinder,

which in turn controls the operation of the The valve core I51,

overcomesthe inertia and any static friction thatfimay be opposing free rotation of the valvi: core I'I in the valve block I55.

The pendulum arm I89 will now remain in the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig, until the container has been filled and removed from the mandrel 52". The removal of the container, or the gradual elevation of the container relativeto the mandrel during the filling operation relieves the downward force acting upon the rod III. As this force is released, the spring I 52 pulls upwardly on the frame I causing it to pivot relatively to the pin I33. ,This relative movement carries the transverse pin I49 upwardly into engagement with the end of the stop I5II so that the toggle members become straightened, with the extension I" engaging the pin I48. Meanwhile, a second striker 2M (Fig.v 10) at the upper extremity of the leg I assumes a position a short distance below the pin I of the pendulum or operating arm I89 preparatory to engaging said pin to cause said arm to swing back to its original position and effect a second filling operation upon the next sudden depression of the rod III. g

It will be understood from the foregoing that the metering cylinder 24 and the booster cylinder I8 operate in the same manner described in connection with metering cylinder 24 and the booster cylinder I6, and that the use of the semi-automatic valve I28 enables the filling of containers to proceed rapidly' and efficiently without requiring the operator to use his hands or feet to actuate any specific control means for the power cylinder 80, the actuation of a said cylinder and the remainder of the apparatus occurring automatically as empty containers are moved downward relatively to the mandrel 52. The automatic arrangement has the added advantage that the metering cylinder normally cannot be-operated unless a container is infilling position.

While both manual and semi-automatic control means have been disclosed herein for concontrol valves for the metering and booster cyl' inders; it will be understood that means other than that specifically disclosed herein may be devised to effect the same result. Accordingly, it is contemplated that numerous variations and changes may be made in the structure of the apparatus disclosed, herein without departing.

from the principles of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for filling containers with plastic or semi-solid material comprising: a meteringcylinder; a container-filling spout operatively associated with said metering cylinder; a metering piston in said metering cylinder for ejecting material from said metering cylinder through said container-filling spout; a booster cylinder; a booster piston in said booster cylinder; a piston rod rigidly interconnecting said metering and booster pistons; a valve for controlling the inlet and discharge of material from said metering cylinder; a valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder; a power cylinder; a power piston in said power cylinder; a valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said power cylinder; and means operatively connecting said power piston with the control valves for said metering and booster cylinders. i

2. An apparatus for filling containers comprising: a metering cylinder, said cylinder having passageways communicating with the opposite ends thereof, each of said passageways being arranged to successively serve as inlet and discharge passageways; a metering piston reciprocably mounted in said'metering cylinder and adapted to displace a given quantity of material from said metering cylinder up'on'each stroke thereof; valve means controlling the admission of said material into and the discharge of said material from said metering cylinder; a container-filling spout operatively connected with said valve means and metering cylinder adapted to be placed in communication with the particular passageway through which material is'being discharged from said metering cylinder; a booster cylinder; a booster piston reciprocably mounted in said booster cylinder; valve means controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder; means connecting said metering and booster pistons together for reciprocation as a unit; "means interconnecting said valve means to effect simultaneous operation thereof; power means for operating the aforementioned valve means including a power cylinder, a power piston in said power cylinder, means connecting said power pistonwith said valve-interconnecting means,.and valve means controlling the admission and exhaustvof operating fluid to said power cylinder.

3. An apparatus for filling containers comprising: a metering cylinder adapted to receive plastic or semi-solid material, said cylinder having inder through the other of said passageways; a 1 container-filling spout operatively connected with said valve and metering cylinder adapted to be placed in communication with the particular passageway through which material is. being displaced from said metering cylinder, said container-fllling spout having a discharge orifice opening upwardly so that a container must be placed thereover in an inverted position; a booster cylinder; a-booster piston reciprocably mounted in said booster cylinder; a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder; a. piston rod connecting said metering and booster pistons together for reciprocationvas a unit; means for limiting the travel of said piston rod; means interconnecting said valves to efiect simultaneous operation thereof; power means for operating the aforementioned valves including a powercylinder, a power piston in said power cylinder, means connecting said power piston with said valve-interconnecting means, and a manually actuated valve controlling and exhaust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder; a piston rod interconnecting said metering and booster pistons; and means including an element adjacent said container-filling spout operable by moving an empty container relative to" said spout for effecting simultaneous actuation of said valve means. 6. An apparatus for filling containers comprising: a metering cylinder; valve means for controlling the admission of material into and the discharge of material from said metering cylinder; cylinder; a mandrel having an orifice through ,which material may be discharged "from said metering cylinder; a booster cylinder; a booster piston in said booster cylinder; means connecting said metering and booster pistons together so that said pistons move as a unit; valve means necting said power piston with said valve-interthe'admission and exhaust of operating. fluid to said power'cylinder.

4. An apparatus for filling containers compris ing: a metering cylinder'adapted to receive plastic or semi-solid material said cylinder having passageways communicating with the opposite ends thereof, each of said passageways being arranged to successively serve as inlet and discharge passageways; a metering piston reciprocably mounted in said metering cylinder and adapted to displace a given quantity of material from .said metering cylinder upon 'each stroke thereof; a valve controlling the admission of said material into and-the discharge of said material from said meteringcylinder; means for introconnecting means; and a valve controlling the means for actuating said striker.

ducing said material into said metering cylinder under pressure through one of said passageways while material isibeing displaced from said metering cylinder through the other of said passageways; a container-filling spout operatively connected with said valve and meteringv cylinder adapted to be placed in communication with the particular passageway through which material is being displaced from said metering cylinder; a, booster cylinder; a booster piston reciprocably mounted in said booster cylinder; a valve 'controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder; a piston rod connecting said metering and booster pistons together for reciprocation as a unit; means for limiting the stroke of said pistons; means interconnecting said valves to effect simultaneous operation thereof; power means .for operating the aforementioned valves including a power cylinder, a

valve means controlling the admission of said '7. An apparatus for filling containers comprising: a metering cylinder; valve means for controlling the admission of material into and the discharge of material ,from said metering cylinder; a metering piston in said meteringunit; valve means for controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder; means interconnecting said valve means to effect simultaneous operation thereof;

a power cylinder; a power piston in said power' cylinder; means connecting saidpower piston' I with said valve-interconnecting means; and a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said power cylinder, said valve including a valve block, a core rotatably mounted in said valve block, a pendulum operatively conactuating said striker including a member posi-- material to and the discharge of said material ,from said cylinder; means for introducing said material under pressure into said cylinder; a booster cylinder; a booster piston in said booster cylinder; valve means controlling the admissionnected with said valve core, a striker adapted to engage said pendulum to impart an impulse thereto'sufllcient to overcome its inertia and to cause rotation of said valve core, and means for tioned adjacent saidumandrel and adapted to be depressed suddenly by an empty container as said container is positioned upon said mandrel for fllling.

-8. An apparatus for flllingr containers comprising: a metering cylinder adapted to receive plastic or semi-solid material, said cylinder hav-' ing passageways communicating with the opposite ends thereof, each of said passageways being arranged to successively serve as inlet and discharge passageways; a metering piston recipro- L a metering piston in said metering charge passageways;

' booster cylinder;

2,878,838- "9 cably mounted in said metering cylinder and adapted to displace a given quantity of material from said metering cylinder upon each stroke thereof; valve means controlling the admission of said materialinto and the discharge of said material from said metering cylinder; means for introducing said material into said metering cylinder under pressure through one of said passageways while material is being displaced from said metering cylinder through the other of said passageways; a container-filling spout operatively associated with said valve means and metering cylinder; adapted to be connected with the particular Jpassageway through which material is being displaced from said metering cylinder, said container-filling spout having a discharge orifice opening upwardly so that a container must be placed thereover in an inverted position; a booster cylinder; abooster piston reciprocably mounted in said booster cylinder; valve means controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder;

' a'piston rod connecting said metering and booster pistons together for reciprocation as a unit; means interconnecting said valve means to effect simultaneous operation thereof; power means for operating the aforementioned valve means including a power cylinder, 9, power piston in said power said power piston with said valve-interconnectaforementioned four-way valves including a power cylinder, 9, power piston in said power cylinder, meansconnecting said power piston with .said valve-interconnecting means, and a manually actuated four-way valve controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid .tozsaid power cylinder.

10. An apparatus for filling containers'comprising: a metering cylinder adapted; to receive plastic or semi-solid materiahsaid cylinder having passageways communicating with the opposite ends thereof, each of said passageways being arranged to successively serve as inlet and discharge passageways; a metering piston reciprocably mounted in said metering cylinder and adapted to displace a given quantity of material from said metering cylinder upon each stroke thereof; a four-way valve controlling the admission of said material into and the discharge of said material from said metering cylinder; means for introducing said material into said metering cylinder under pressure through one of said pas-,- sageways while material is beingdisplaced from said metering cylinder through the other of said cylinder, means connecting ing means, and valve means controlling the ad-,

mission and exhaust of operating fluid to said power cylinder; and a member adjacent said container-filling spout adapted to be engaged by the rim or an empty container to elect actuation of said last-mentionedvalve means as said container is positioned over said spout preparatory to filling. I

9. An apparatus for filling containers com prising: a metering cylinder adapted to receive plastic or semi-solid material, said cylinder having passageways communicating with the oppo- .site ends thereof, eachof said peways being arranged to successively serve as inlet and disa metering Piston reciprocylinder upon each stroke a four-way valve controlling the admission of said material into and the discharge of said material from said metering cylinder; means for introducing said material into said metering cylinder under pressure through one of said passageways while material is being displaced from said metering cylinder through the other of said passageways; acontainer-filling means interconnecting.

passageways; acontainer-fllling mandrel operati'veLv associated withsaid four-way valve and metering cylinder adapted to be connected with the particular passageway through which material is being displaced from said metering cylinder, said container-filling mandrel having a discharge orince opening upwardly so that a container must be placed thereoverin an inverted position; a booster cylinder; a booster piston reciprocably mounted in said booster cylinder; a four-way valve controlling the admission and exust of operating fluid to said booster cylinder;

a piston rod connecting said metering and booster pistons together for reciprocation as a unit;

' means'for limiting the stroke of said booster piston; means interconnecting said four-way valves to eflect simultaneous operation thereof; power means for operating the aforementioned fourway valves including a power cylinder, a power piston in said power cylinder, means connecting said power piston with said valve-interconnecting means, and a pendulum actuated four-way valve controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said power cylinder; and a member adjacent said container-filling mandrel adapted to be engaged by the rim of an empty container to eflect actuation of said last-mentioned fourway valve as said container is positioned over said mandrel preparatory to filling.

11. A container-filling apparatus comprising: a metering cylinder; a booster cylinder; valve means for controlling said metering and booster cylinders, respectiv means interconnecting said valve means to effect simultaneous operation thereof; a power cylinder for actuating said interconnected valve means; and a valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid from said power cylinder, said last-mentionedvalve comprising a rotatable core, a pendulum arm operatively connected with said core to enect rotation thereof; and striker means arranged to cngagesaid pendulum arm to cause the same to swing and thereby eflect rotation of said valve core.

CHARLES T. WALTER. 

